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Fleet throw away two-goal lead

Stacy Long fires the Fleet into a two-goal lead - but Mansfield staged a second half fightback. Picture: Matthew Reading
Stacy Long fires the Fleet into a two-goal lead - but Mansfield staged a second half fightback. Picture: Matthew Reading

Ebbsfleet United 2 Mansfield 2

Ebbsfleet started their Blue Square Premier campaign in disappointing fashion by drawing 2-2 at home with Mansfield having been 2-0 up on Saturday.

Luke Moore gave the Fleet the perfect start on seven minutes forcing home Michael Gash's shot, which had hit the post and keeper.

It was 2-0 on 25 minutes through Stacy Long's curling effort from 18 yards and Fleet were dominating a poor Mansfield side from then until the half-time whistle.


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Mansfield manager Billy McEwan must have read the riot act at half-time as the visitors came out fired up and Michael Blackwood halved the deficit on 63 minutes when his cross eluded Lance Cronin and nestled in at the far post.

Fleet had chances to finish the game - substitute John Akinde went close and James Smith also missed when well placed.

However, the Fleet's hearts were broken on 89 minutes when Mark Stallard's header somehow squeezed between Sacha Opinel and the post to level the scores and send the Mansfield fans behind the goal into delirium.

Liam Daish's men must now regroup and try again at Rushden and Diamonds on Tuesday night.


Ebbsfleet: Cronin, Hawkins, Smith, Charles, Opinel, Shakes (Akinde 76), Barrett, Stone, Long, Gash, Moore.

Subs not used: Mott, Purcell, Ricketts, Appiah.

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